3d rendering software

Folks, a certain person wants to try some 3-d modeling or animating software such as Blender or Anim8tor. We both expressed concern about downloading some unknown software that could corrupt our computer and endanger our precious bodily fluids.

As it happens, I have some experience with 3d modeling software. (I'm username Jenny on SciFi-Meshes).

The top of the line is Lightwave, but it's very spendy... the other commercial package that's very popular with the SciFi crowd is 3ds Max.

POV-Ray is free, and possibly the most powerful of the open-source packages, but it has a... less-than-intuitive interface. Blender has a steep learning curve, but is well regarded among the SciFi crowd. And at the low end is Google Sketchup, which is free, and has a web-based interface so that you don't have to download anything at all.

As it happens, I have some experience with 3d modeling software. (I'm username Jenny on SciFi-Meshes).

The top of the line is Lightwave, but it's very spendy... the other commercial package that's very popular with the SciFi crowd is 3ds Max.

POV-Ray is free, and possibly the most powerful of the open-source packages, but it has a... less-than-intuitive interface. Blender has a steep learning curve, but is well regarded among the SciFi crowd. And at the low end is Google Sketchup, which is free, and has a web-based interface so that you don't have to download anything at all.

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Google no longer owns SketchUp, hasn't for almost two years. Trimble owns it now. Also, SketchUp isn't a rendering software, it is design software that has some rendering built in, but really needs to be exported to fully render the stuff that is drawn. It is super powerful as a 3D design software, especially the latest version.

My error; thank you. I don't actually use SketchUp; I'm a Lightwaver. All I really know is that there's a substantial minority on SFM who use it, and I've been impressed by some of the results they've achieved.

Google no longer owns SketchUp, hasn't for almost two years. Trimble owns it now. Also, SketchUp isn't a rendering software, it is design software that has some rendering built in, but really needs to be exported to fully render the stuff that is drawn. It is super powerful as a 3D design software, especially the latest version.

lowsound

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Coming from AutoCAD, SketchUp was so limiting in my experience. This was back in 2008-2010 probably. Possibly I was too ingrained with ACAD processes.

Coming from AutoCAD, SketchUp was so limiting in my experience. This was back in 2008-2010 probably. Possibly I was too ingrained with ACAD processes.

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AutoCAD and SketchUp fill completely different needs and have different methods to get to an end product. Once you understand the differences, SketchUp is super easy and powerful. Trying to use it like AutoCAD and you are going to get frustrated.